A TOTAL twist on the film! (Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine)

Member Name: Jonni_boi

Product:	Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine
Date:	10/02/09 (132 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: intrigued me lots

Disadvantages: mainly for younger kids

After watching the film, I endeavoured to read the book. I first thought that this book was an adaptation to the film, rather than the other way around, and then as I read more and more into it I realised I had thought wrong, and became even more interested in this book as I didn't know how the story would go. It is quite weird, for me anyway, to enjoy both a book and a film, especially when they have slightly different story-lines. I think what I'm trying to get at is the fact that Eragon, the film was not as I had expected and therefore the film was rubbish. Although, this film and the book I fully enjoyed and can understand fully the tagline to the book which is: "Cinderella with a Magical Twist", that tagline wouldn't work with the film.

The author is Gail Carson Levine. I know she has been writing for many years now, and she bases her stories on magical stuff for children, I haven't read any of her other books, as of yet, but I plan to read her fairly new book called "Ever" which sounds really good. I wouldn't say that Gail Carson Levine would become one of my all-time favourite authors, her books are for children younger than me, and therefore her writing technique could be totally different to a child, than it is to me. However, I would be totally intrigued to find a child younger than me, who have read this book, and know that person's thoughts on it, because this book captured me and I ended up finishing this book quicker than expected, and considering I'm 16, a book for younger children shouldn't enrapture my interest so much. Therefore if I met a younger child, who had read this book, I would be fascinated to find out how they would describe their fascination, because she has aimed this book for younger children and therefore the child would have been much more enraptured within the novel than I was.

This book is about a girl called "Ella of Frell". At the start, a fairy called Lucinda, gives her a gift when Ella was a baby. Ella's constant crying as a baby, gave Lucinda her inspiration for her gift, which is "Obedience". Now Ella does everything she's told to which is not great. Then her Mother dies. And her dad takes over her life, forcing her to go to finishing school with 2 horrible children called Olive and Hattie. But Ella runs away from school in search of Lucinda. With a helpful book as her guide she attempts to find her, but will Lucinda take back her gift?

I was shocked at first when the magical book guide became part of the story. In the film the book is a person that has become the book (that's really hard to explain, try reading my film review, or watching the film). Anyway, in this book it's a book of Fairy tales. When Ella reads it, it's notes and letters from people she know, and sometimes not sent to her, also she can see pictures of some of her closest friends. This book helped guide her to Lucinda. But I think the book would be better suited as the film book!

I really did enjoy this book and was really intrigued to read it all. At one time I was up until 4am still reading. It is really that good, but I bet you anything a child younger than me would find it spellbinding and magical and mystical.

I can't recommend you watch the film then read the book, because that's the way I did it. I can't really tell you what the best order to do it in, but I would presume it would be best to read the book first, however I might be totally wrong, and watching the film might work best for you. It all depends on which you'd prefer to do

I don't really know what else to say, apart from thanks for reading

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